How Michael Jackson Saved My Morning

Ethan, my almost 7 year old recently started 1st grade. New school, new kids, new routines. Ethan’s a little like me in that transitions aren’t the easiest thing for him. Every morning it’s been the same routine: Ethan complaining about how his stomach hurts or how he doesn’t feel well or how he just wants to sleep. I believe that he’s sincerely not feeling well because he’s so anxious about the day. So I give him room to talk about those feelings and the house rule remains the same: get dressed, go to school and if you STILL don’t feel well, then you can have the school call me. So, there we were this morning having the same conversation we’ve had for the last 10 days. Can I just say how exhausting this is?

I asked him how he wanted to feel and he said “good”. Phew, at least he wants to feel good. That’s a start. We talked about things that might help him feel better…things like eating breakfast, thinking of something funny or something he’s looking forward to. Then we did those things. We were on the path to feeling better. Then I remembered what Ethan’s karate Sensei said to the class yesterday. She referenced the book Brain Rules (because the author, John Medina’s sons are also students at USA Karate) . She told the kids their brains are so much smarter when they exercise and get their blood flowing.

I thought that getting our blood flowing this morning might help shift Ethan’s mood a bit. So, he reluctantly agreed to dance with me to Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” (you know, the early Michael days?) Ethan was used to this from me because typically on Friday nights we have “Friday Night Dance Party” at our house where the four of us (Mom, Dad, Ethan and Logan) dance in the living room. So we had a mini-version of dance party this morning, got our blood flowing, acted a little silly and guess what? Yep…Ethan felt better! And so did I.

The next time you’re not feeling great, maybe you’re anxious, maybe you’re tired or just a little off, try these steps:

1. Ask yourself how you want to feel
2. Move in that direction by taking little steps that might make you feel better (hint: it commonly starts with a biological need like eating, drinking or sleeping)
3. Get your body moving…and if you can make it fun that’s even better!

These steps may seem simple or even remedial, but when we’re in that stuck place like Ethan was this morning, the simplest things are often the most powerful tools to moving us forward. Good luck!